By India Blooms News Service Sep 16, 2023
Colombo/IBNS/UNI: Despite Shubman Gills 5th ODI century, India lost to Bangladesh by 6 runs in an inconsequential Super 4 match at R Premadasa Stadium here on Friday.
India are already through to the Asia Cup final after pulling off a thrilling victory over Sri Lanka, winning by 41 runs after defending a relatively challenging total of 213 runs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 172 runs in a scuttled match due to two spells of rain.
However, India will be meeting Sri Lanka in the finals after the hosts defeated Pakistan in an existing virtual semifinal match on Thursday.
Gill carried the burden of seeing India off the target but did not get the required support from the other end. He reached his century in 117 balls, but his dismissal after scoring 121 in 133 balls with 8 boundaries and 5 sixes, but his dismissal proved nemesis for India, despite Axar Patels 42 off 34 balls with 3 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Ravindra Jadeja was cleaned up for a nothing shot off Mustifizur Rahman for 7 before Axar walked in.
Bangladesh, who fielded 4 spinners, tied down Indian batsmen in the middle overs as the track was turning, which forced them to use it to their advantage.
The Bangladeshi pacers led by Mustafizue Rahman (3/50) shared 5 wickets amongst themselves, and 4 wickets by spinners, helping their team to register victory. Tanzim Hasan Sakib the debutant struck twice early on including the big wicket of Rohit Sharma.
Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Towhid Hridoys formidable partnership of 101 runs off 115 balls propelled Bangladesh to 265/8 against India in an inconsequential Super 4 match at R Premadasa Stadium here on Friday.
Captain Shakib almost made run-a-ball 80 off 85 deliveries.
India began the run chase poorly with Rohit Sharma (0) getting caught by Anamul Haque at cover-point in the second ball of Indias innings, giving Tanzim Hasan Sakib his maiden ODI wicket.
Tanzim had his second wicket in his very next over by cleaning up Tilak Varma (5) as he tried to leave the ball, but an inswinging ball crashed into his stumps, imprinting a puzzled look on his face.
KL Rahul walked in and stitched a 57-run partnership with Gill for the third wicket, before the wicketkeeper-batsman made 19 off 39 balls with 2 boundaries, reducing India to 74/3 in 17.1 overs.
After adding 20 runs, Ishan Kishan departed after scoring 5 off 15 balls, trapped leg before off Mehidy.
Suryakumar Yadav was getting into his groove along with Gill but fell to a premeditated mis-sweep as the ball clipped his off-stump for 26 off 34 balls with 3 boundaries.
Earlier India won the toss and captain Rohit announced significant changes in his sides lineup for this encounter. The inclusion of Tilak Varma made headlines after receiving his ODI cap.
Though not a part of the World Cup squad initially, Tilaks impressive performances in T20Is had caught the attention of the selectors, prompting them to provide him with some valuable match practice in case of squad changes due to injuries.
India underwent a total of five changes for this game. Resting key players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah, the team introduced Tilak Varma, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, and Suryakumar Yadav into the playing XI.
Bangladeshs opening batsmen, Tanzid Hasan and Liton Das, were dismissed early, providing India with a perfect start.
Anamul Haque also fell quickly, managing only 4 runs off 11 balls. However, a partnership between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and skipper Shakib, worth 31 runs from 50 balls, allowed Bangladesh to recover. Their partnership was eventually broken when Indian skipper Rohit Sharma took an excellent catch to dismiss Miraz, who had scored 13 runs off 28 balls.
After building a formidable partnership between Shakib and Hridoy, Shardul provided India with a breakthrough. Right after the drinks break, Thakur took the crucial wicket of Bangladeshs skipper Shakib who departed after falling 20 runs short of a century.
Shamim Hossain was dismissed for just 1 run off 5 balls by Ravindra Jadeja, who became the 14th player in ODI history, and the only Indian after Kapil Dev to achieve a 2,000 runs and 200 wickets double in ODIs.
Hridoy played a valuable innings of 54 runs off 81 balls, helping Bangladesh reach a challenging total.
Indias bowlers put up an impressive performance, with Mohammad Shami taking 2 wickets for 32 runs, Shardul claiming 3 wickets for 65 runs, and Prasidh Krishna contributing 1 wicket for 43 runs.